The Pale-crested Woodpecker lives in dry forest and open woodland of south-central South America. Its pale crest stands out, and males and females differ in their red facial markings.
Its crest is pale blond to whitish. Males have a red cheek or moustachial stripe; females lack the red facial patch. The subspecies kerri is described as somewhat larger and darker.
It searches among branches and foliage in the midstory and excavates dead wood for ants and other prey. It uses Chaco, dry forest, and open woodland with large trees.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.